Righthaven Stories

Since March 2010, Righthaven has teamed with the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post to file a whopping 275 federal lawsuits alleging copyright infringement and seeking damages of $150,000 apiece.

These lawsuits are filed in retroactive fashion, meaning if someone posted a Review-Journal story without authorization in December, Righthaven spotted the infringement in January, obtained the copyright to the story in February and sued the unsuspecting defendant in March.

The suits say Righthaven has the right to collect damages for infringements, be they in the past, the present or the future. Internet sites, bloggers and message board posters throughout North America and in Europe are accused in the suits of posting, without authorization, on their websites partial or entire stories from those newspapers, as well as editorials, columns, graphics and photos.

Archive highlights

Righthaven: The controversy over copyrights

Mon, Jul 25, 2011

The time has come to add copyright lawsuits—alongside casinos—as one of the things Las Vegas is best known for nationally. Copyright lawsuits? Yes, in national legal and media circles, Las ...

Judge: Righthaven masquerading as a company

Thu, Jul 14, 2011

A judge today fined newspaper copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas $5,000 for misleading Nevada’s federal court about its lawsuits.

Righthaven hurts news industry, one ruling at a time

Sun, Jun 26, 2011

Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist and former Publisher Sherman Frederick’s column today involving his “little friend” Righthaven could be Exhibit A in the case against Righthaven’s litigation strategy.

Legal attack dog sicked on websites accused of violating R-J copyrights

Wed, Aug 4, 2010

When it comes to fighting copyright theft in the news industry — the piracy of stories, editorials, columns, photos and videos — there are watchdogs and there are attack dogs.

All stories

Judge threatens to dismiss another Righthaven copyright lawsuit

Tue, Oct 18, 2011

A judge is threatening to dismiss another copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas for a familiar reason: Lack of standing. A judge signed an order Friday ...

Righthaven facing fraudulent transfer claim

Sun, Oct 16, 2011

Attorneys fighting Las Vegas copyright infringement lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC on Sunday accused the company of fraudulently paying its attorneys and CEO while failing to pay defendants who defeat Righthaven ...

Righthaven facing new lawsuit fee demand

Fri, Oct 14, 2011

Even as Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC can’t come up with $34,045 to pay one prevailing defendant’s legal fees, it was hit with another demand Friday for $33,148 ...

Righthaven appeals for right to file copyright suits over Denver Post material

Tue, Oct 11, 2011

Copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas on Tuesday asked an appeals court to revive its right to sue over Denver Post content.

Righthaven asks appeals court to block dismantling of the company

Mon, Oct 10, 2011

Despite its backing by billionaire Arkansas investment banker Warren Stephens, copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas said Sunday it has been unable to secure a $34,045 bond to ...

Righthaven trying again to avoid paying prevailing defendants’ fees

Sun, Oct 9, 2011

It’s an effort already rejected by one judge, but Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas is trying again to avoid paying the legal fees of defendants that defeat Righthaven in court. ...

Defense attorneys suspicious of latest Righthaven maneuver

Fri, Oct 7, 2011

In a move defense attorneys are already questioning, copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC is asking for the right to re-file 27 of its lawsuits over Denver Post material – should ...

Righthaven, Stephens Media eating more legal costs after dismissals of suits

Sat, Oct 1, 2011

Lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas and newspaper chain Stephens Media LLC will be writing off their investment from yet another copyright lawsuit after it was voluntarily dismissed.

Righthaven catches a break in court

Wed, Sep 28, 2011

Copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas finally received a break on Wednesday when a judge rejected requests that it be found in contempt of court, be placed in ...

Judge sets date for Righthaven to show why suits shouldn't be tossed

Wed, Sep 28, 2011

Copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas today was given until Oct. 7 to show cause why its open lawsuits in Colorado should not be thrown out of court.

Judge: Righthaven lacked standing, abused Copyright Act

Tue, Sep 27, 2011

Righthaven lacked standing to file copyright infringement lawsuits in Colorado under its lawsuit contract with the Denver Post and abused the Copyright Act in doing so, a judge ruled.

Missed deadline potentially costly for Righthaven

Sun, Sep 25, 2011

Righthaven LLC watched thousands of dollars in legal work potentially go down the drain Friday.

Defense attorneys say Righthaven missed deadline to pay legal fees

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

Defense attorneys on Friday stepped up the pressure on Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC, asking a judge to appoint a receiver to run the company after it failed ...

Lack of court rulings leaves Righthaven cash intact

Thu, Sep 15, 2011

The finances of Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC remained intact Thursday after judges didn’t immediately rule on issues involving tens of thousands of dollars defendants claim to be ...

Righthaven litigation costs rise with latest ruling

Wed, Sep 14, 2011

A federal judge today rejected a request by Righthaven LLC that a hearing set for Thursday in Denver be called off – a move that may further weaken Righthaven’s precarious ...

Attorneys say Righthaven presenting judge a 'false choice'

Tue, Sep 13, 2011

In another theatrical diatribe against Righthaven LLC, defense attorneys say the Las Vegas company presented a federal judge with a “false choice” with its warning it may shut down or ...

Developments unfold in Righthaven Colorado cases

Fri, Sep 9, 2011

Righthaven LLC’s warning today about a potential bankruptcy came amid developments in two more Righthaven copyright lawsuits pending in Denver.

Righthaven says it might have to file for bankruptcy

Fri, Sep 9, 2011

Despite its backing by the billionaire Warren Stephens family, Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC warned today it may have to file for bankruptcy because of a series of ...

Denver Post owner not renewing Righthaven contract after PR debacles

Thu, Sep 8, 2011

Newspaper copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas is losing one of its major clients, with MediaNews Group saying Righthaven’s no-warning lawsuit model ``isn’t working very well for us.’’

Foes seek decisive ruling against Righthaven

Wed, Sep 7, 2011

Opponents of Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC appealed again Tuesday to a Colorado judge to decisively end Righthaven’s lawsuits over Denver Post material.

Videos

Dead in the Water?
Dead in the Water?
A federal judge has called Righthaven's tactics in suing to protect online content not just ...

More Information

What is a copyright?

According to the US Copyright Office, copyright is a form of intellectual property law that protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic and musical works, and artistic works such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software and architecture. Such protection encourages creativity.

Under the fair use doctrine of the US copyright statute, it is permissible to use limited portions of a work, including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, news reporting and scholarly reports. What is fair use is decided on a case-by-case basis, with judges often relying on evolving case law.

Righthaven’s numbers as of July 15

• Of Righthaven’s 276 lawsuits, all but one involved material from the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post. One suit was filed over sports betting material that didn’t involve a newspaper.

• Righthaven’s lawsuits were filed in Las Vegas, Denver and Charleston, SC.

213 Righthaven lawsuits involve Las Vegas Review-Journal material. After settlements and dismissals, 79 were active.

62 involved Denver Post material and 34 were active.

What others are saying about Righthaven

"Plaintiff’s litigation strategy has a chilling effect on potential fair uses of Righthaven-owned articles, diminishes public access to the facts contained therein and does nothing to advance the Copyright Act’s purpose of promoting artistic creation.”— U.S. District Judge James Mahan in Las Vegas

"The purpose of the courts is to provide a forum for the orderly, just, and timely resolution of controversies and disputes. Plaintiff’s (Righthaven’s) wishes to the contrary, the courts are not merely tools for encouraging and exacting settlements from defendants cowed by the potential costs of litigation and liability.’’ — U.S. District Judge John Kane in Denver

"Righthaven and Stephens Media have attempted to create a cottage industry of filing copyright claims, making large claims for damages and then settling claims for pennies on the dollar, with defendants who do not want to incur the costs of defending the lawsuits, (and) are now offended when someone has turned the tables on them and insisting on a judgment in their favor rather than a simple dismissal of the lawsuit.” — U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt in Las Vegas

"I’m asking you nicely once again—don’t steal our content. Or, I promise you, you will meet my little friend called Righthaven.” — Sherman Frederick, at the time publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal

"Where the law has created a legal way to extort money from hapless netizens, Righthaven has stepped in for some quick cash. They’re not evil geniuses. They’re not right-wing extremists. They’re not left-wing zealots. The truth is much worse. They’re just jerks.” — Eric Johnson, associate professor of law at the University of North Dakota

"We were surprised to witness such behavior here, in the United States, while this is generally a phenomenon Reporters Without Borders witnesses in authoritarian regimes to silence netizens and intimidate journalists, bloggers and others. Therefore, we ask you to drop the lawsuit against him and find a reasonable compromise regarding his case.”— International press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, in a letter to the Denver Post regarding a Righthaven lawsuit against young autistic blogger Brian Hill and Righthaven’s $6,000 settlement demand along with its threat to garnish his Social Security Disability Insurance income at the rate of $50 per month for 10 years.